Caribbean
The British Virgin Islands are a scatter of green volcanic peaks and coral cays at the northeastern edge of the Caribbean, and they are built for the water.
More than fifty islands and islets sit around the sheltered Sir Francis Drake Channel, which is why the BVI are one of the world's great sailing grounds and why even a short stay feels like a boat trip. This guide covers the headline experiences: the giant granite boulders and sea-filled grottoes of The Baths on Virgin Gorda, the barefoot beach bar at Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke, the sea caves and pinnacles around Norman Island, the wreck of the RMS Rhone, the cloud forest of Sage Mountain on Tortola, the sand and lobster pits of Anegada, and the long curve of Cane Garden Bay. It also explains how to do it by day sail from Road Town or as a single long day from St Thomas with a passport, and it matches you to five places to stay, from a resort on a crescent bay to a marina hotel with a short walk to the ferries.
The Baths, Virgin Gorda
The BVI's signature sight: a tumble of huge granite boulders on the shore of Virgin Gorda, forming sea-filled grottoes you scramble through to reach Devil's Bay. A national park with a small entry fee, and best reached on a shared catamaran day from Tortola.
Jost Van Dyke: Soggy Dollar Bar and White Bay
A barefoot beach bar on a perfect white-sand bay, where boats anchor offshore and guests wade in to drink. A shared sail from Tortola adds Sandy Spit, a lunch buffet and an open bar.
Day Trip from St Thomas: The Baths, Devil’s Bay and White Bay
One long boat day from St Thomas or St John that crosses into the British Virgin Islands for The Baths, Devil's Bay, White Bay and the Soggy Dollar Bar. You need a valid passport and some cash for customs fees.
Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
Tortola's most loved beach: a long curve of pale sand on the north coast with calm turquoise water, beach bars and live music. Free to enjoy, easy to reach by taxi, and a favorite for a lazy swim and a sunset rum.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The BVI's signature sight: a tumble of huge granite boulders on the shore of Virgin Gorda, forming sea-filled grottoes you scramble through to reach Devil's Bay. A national park with a small entry fee, and best reached on a shared catamaran day from Tortola.
The highest point in the BVI, with a patch of cool, misty rainforest on the ridge above Tortola's north coast. Short loop trails, huge old trees and big views make it the best half-day away from the beach.
FreeTortola's most loved beach: a long curve of pale sand on the north coast with calm turquoise water, beach bars and live music. Free to enjoy, easy to reach by taxi, and a favorite for a lazy swim and a sunset rum.
A barefoot beach bar on a perfect white-sand bay, where boats anchor offshore and guests wade in to drink. A shared sail from Tortola adds Sandy Spit, a lunch buffet and an open bar.
Sea caves said to have inspired Treasure Island, and a ring of pinnacle rocks called The Indians that is one of the BVI's best snorkel sites. A shared six-hour sail from Tortola handles the boat, lunch and gear.
The Caribbean's best-known wreck: a Royal Mail steamer sunk by a hurricane in 1867 and now protected in a national marine park off Salt Island. Divers explore bow and stern; shallower parts reward snorkelers.
A six-hour shared sail on a 60-foot yacht from Road Town to Norman Island, with the Caves, lunch and an open bar. The classic way to feel what makes the BVI the sailing capital of the Caribbean.
FreeThe BVI's flat coral outlier, with miles of empty white sand, a huge reef and the islands' famous lobster dinners. Loblolly Bay is the beach to head for; getting there takes a ferry or small plane, so plan a night or a long day.
One long boat day from St Thomas or St John that crosses into the British Virgin Islands for The Baths, Devil's Bay, White Bay and the Soggy Dollar Bar. You need a valid passport and some cash for customs fees.
A calm four-acre garden in the middle of Road Town, with palms, orchids, a lily pond and a tropical fern house. A low-cost, shady stop for anyone on the capital's waterfront.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Virgin Gorda
The BVI's classic luxury resort, on a crescent-shaped bay on Virgin Gorda with beachside cottages, suites and villas, several restaurants, a clifftop spa and a long list of water and land activities. The splurge for a honeymoon or a milestone trip.
Check rates →Nanny Cay, Tortola
A relaxed resort and marina on Tortola's south coast, with about fifty rooms, a beach, two pools, restaurants and a spa, plus waterfront townhouses with their own docks. A good base for sailors and for families who want an easy, self-contained stay.
Check rates →Wickhams Cay, Road Town
A marina-front hotel in Road Town's Wickhams Cay, close to the ferry docks, charter bases and Main Street. A practical, walkable base for island hopping and for anyone starting or ending a boat trip.
Check rates →Wickhams Cay, Road Town
A small, friendly waterfront hotel in Road Town's Wickhams Cay, within reach of the ferries, the marina restaurants and Main Street. A good-value, locally run style of stay for travelers who prefer character to resort polish.
Check rates →Waterfront, Road Town
A budget-friendly hotel on McNamara Road in Road Town with an outdoor pool, restaurant and bar, an easy walk to Main Street and about 18 minutes on foot from the cruise port. The sensible choice for keeping costs down.
Check rates →What first-time visitors should book ahead, how ferries, taxis and boats work, how many days to allow and how to fit The Baths, Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island and the rest into a trip.
How to choose between a resort on Virgin Gorda, a marina resort on Tortola's south coast and a walkable base in Road Town, with five hotels across price levels.
